Thirty seconds and one wave was all that separated Anna Bay surfer Jasmine Sampson from claiming the 2018 Mattara Surf Classic from Philippa Anderson.
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Sampson, 16, was leading the final but Anderson, from Merewether, claimed first priority on the final wave of the day to clinch back-to-back titles in Newcastle on Saturday.
While disappointed with the outcome, and missing out on the $4000 top prize, Sampson said it was hard to be too upset when she was up against a professional like Anderson, who has been campaigning to make the championship tour (CT).
“It was really good to surf up against Philippa,” Sampson said. “As a QS surfer, a professional, she’s obviously really good. To be so close to her in the final was a pretty good feeling.”
Anderson earned a heat-high 6.9 on a wave in the last 30 seconds of the women’s final to deny Sampson 11.13 to 9.73.
Corlette’s Elle Clayton-Brown (8.27) came away with third. In the juniors, Mike Clayton-Brown, 15, also placed third.
The results come as the trio prepare for the Port Stephens Toyota NSW Pro.
Sampson, who has won a wildcard into the Women’s QS6000, said she is “so excited” for the event to start at Birubi Beach on November 8.
“To have the opportunity to surf against the girls that are the best in the world, there’s nothing else like it,” Sampson said.
“You definitely learn a lot watching them and surfing against them. When they’re in the water they all push each other to do their best.”
It will be the second year Sampson and Clayton-Brown, also 16, will surf in the Women’s QS6000.
Sampson is set to go up against Hawaiian Malia Manuel, number 12 on the CT, in the women’s pro, which is the last event on the qualifying series (QS) calendar.
“I’ve had some good results going into the QS so I’m feeling pretty confident,” Sampson said. “I’ll be surfing my own break – I surf at Birubi every day – so I’ll have a bit of an advantage. I’m really excited to be going up against Malia.”
Sampson and Clayton-Brown will get a jump start on their NSW Pro campaigns this weekend with the Port Stephens Open Women's Pro-Am.
The Pro-Am and the Kaos Surf PRD Cadet Cup for under 12, 14 and 16 junior surfers will be staged at Birubi Beach on November 3 and 4.
Port Stephens grommets Jimmi Hill, Isaac Sullivan and Taj Turner are expected to contest the cadet cup divisions this weekend.
Sampson, the Clayton-Brown siblings, and Port surfers Josh Stretton and Chris Michalak are due to contest the NSW Pro Women’s QS6000 and Men’s QS1000 at Birubi Beach between November 8 and 13.
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
